Understanding the debate about plastic At a time when a ‘climate emergency’ has been declared, it is important that people understand that ‘plastic free’ does not necessarily mean ‘better for the environment’. For example, researchers found that switching to alternative materials could quadruple what they dubbed ‘the environmental cost.’ Plastic will – and should – continue to play a vital role in all our lives going forward. That may surprise many of you. But this document helps explain why. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, British Plastics Federation recording and/or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. 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Contents The enemy is not plastic, it is plastic waste 2 Key facts and figures 3 The right to choose (wisely) 4 Making a difference 5 Government proposals and the industry’s position 6 Why do we need single-use plastic? 8 Extended producer responsibility 10 Taxing plastic packaging based upon the amount of recycled content 12 Deposit return schemes 14 Exporting plastic waste for recycling 16 Biodegradable and oxo-degradable plastics 18 Marine litter 20 1 The enemy is not plastic, it is plastic waste Plastic brings many benefits, enabling many other cutting-edge technologies and keeping the weight and fuel emissions of vehicles down. Plastic packaging also contributes significantly to minimising food waste, which is partly why pre-packaged goods are often cheaper than loose goods. The UK plastics industry would like to see the UK reduce its reliance on exporting its plastic waste and for stringent quality controls to ensure that any waste that is sent abroad for recycling, is actually recycled – and is done so in an environmentally friendly way. Technically speaking, all plastic can be recycled and the technology exists to do so. But in reality, they first need to be collected before being sorted, recycled and sold on as material for a new product. And all this needs to be done economically. It may take a few years while new recycling technologies that allow even more types of plastic to be recycled are refined so that they work on an industrial scale. But in the meantime, the plastics industry is working with the government to achieve the common goal of simplifying what is collected for recycling across the UK to make it easier for people. 2 Key facts and figures 3rd largest employer Plastic is one of the UK’s in manufacturing sector top 10 exports Food and drink Automotive 1st 400,000 2nd 186,000 9.6bn Plastic EPORTS Plastic companies are 500,000+ 182,000 spread across the UK directl PEOPLE EMPLOYED 3 and indirectl 5% in the plastics industry Scotland emploed 4% 27% More than Northern North a third Ireland England of plastics and 6% 32% plastic products ales Midlands In manufacturing, commerce, transport, are eported and East real estate, and other industries. nldes lasti rodts 26% mainer ra materials South England Plastic is used in almost every sector There are many types of plastic with distinct properties, making it an How important exceptional material for an extremely wide range of products. is plastic for PACAIN the future? CONSTRUCTION AUTOMOTIVE Plastics patents E/E Top 5 ARICULTURE IN EUROPE HOUSEHOLD, LEISURE, SPORTS 63,000+ OTHERS (This is more patents than P pharmaceutical or biotech) PS P PC her EPS PET PA6 PVC PUR PA66 MMA Ot PE-LD P PE-LLD ABS SAN thermosets) Other Plastics PE-HD PE-MD POLYMER TYPES Thermoplastics (especially other Source: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG) and Conversio Market and Strategy GmbH Effect of substituting plastic packaging with alternatives To continue to improve, we need to develop recycling Total masses for same Energy consumption GG emissions infrastructure in the UK functional units for total life-cycle for total life-cycle 3.6 2.2 2.7 Extra recycling capacity is needed in the UK to sort and process plastic waste 25,000 new obs Plastic packaging Alternative materials could be created by 2030 In acknowledgement of such important factors, over 40 academics from across if the UK’s plastic recycling the UK have come out in support of the environmental benefits of plastics. capacity is significantly extended 3 The right to choose (wisely) People have the right to choose the packaging As we continue to learn they do or do not need in their lives. But if we are giving people a choice, we also need to how to use plastic more present them with enough information to make an informed choice. intelligently, we also When making decisions about what packaging format need to remember to is best for the environment, it involves considering more than simply the recyclability of the packaging. #valueplastic Experts factor in its weight, bulk, water and energy use, Switching to bulkier, heavier packaging materials the distance the food has to travel, the greenhouse and/or allowing food waste to rise could easily gas emissions that were generated when making or result in greenhouse gas emissions increasing. growing a product, how much of that product may or may not end up spoiling with or without particular We need to be careful that people do not packaging, as well as the resource efficiency and understand ‘plastic free’ to necessarily mean recyclability of the packaging. ‘good for the environment’. The potential spreading of germs via loose produce Plastic will – and should – continue to play may also be considered. a vital role in all our lives going forward. Other materials have a different environmental impact, As we continue to learn how to use and may use more land, energy and water to create, plastic more intelligently, we also as well as being heavier and bulkier. One study from need to remember to #valueplastic 2016 found that switching to alternative materials could quadruple what the researchers dubbed ‘the environmental cost’. 4 Making a difference We can all make a difference. People can help by educating themselves about the any item risks it finding its way into the natural vital role packaging plays to help them make informed environment, where it can cause well-documented harm. decisions about the packaging and products they do or do not need in their lives. And obviously, littering In addition to reducing the UK’s reliance on exporting plastic for recycling, the plastics industry, government, local authorities and the wider supply chain need to work together to simplify the process of recycling for people across the entire UK. Meanwhile, the plastics industry is: Monitoring and trialling Investing in innovative sorting Willing to promote reuse different solutions as the and recycling technologies mechanisms in cases where retail environment evolves. around the world. it makes clear sense to do so. Willing to pay a fair share Developing and promoting Committed to helping to stop of the cost of recovering and ecodesign guides to ensure plastic packaging going to recycling plastic products. plastic packaging is easily landfill before 2030. recyclable. For more information visit: www.bpf.co.uk/vision www.bpf.co.uk/eco-design www.marinelitterthefacts.com 5 Government proposals and the industry’s position The government has proposed four ways the UK can potentially improve the way it manages plastic waste: Refining Introducing etended a deposit Aiming for producer return consistent Taing packaging products responsibilit scheme collection that do not contain at EPR DRS schemes across least 30 reccled content obligations the U The plastics industry shares the Although the above proposals are all well government’s objective of reducing the intentioned, certain technical issues and level of plastic waste in the UK and complications mean things are not as welcomes the fact that the government straight forward as many suppose. remains focused on analysing the evidence. 6 The British Plastics Federation is an organisation that represents over 450 companies, including recyclers, packaging producers and raw material suppliers. After detailed consultation with relevant companies, the following pages are intended to outline the UK plastics industry’s position on: • Why do we need single-use plastic? • Extended producer responsibility • Taxing plastic based upon recycled content • Deposit return schemes • Exporting plastic waste for recycling • Biodegradable and oxo-biodegradable plastics • Marine litter To view all of the UK plastics industry’s ‘position statements’ and for a list of sources visit: www.bpf.co.uk/positionstatements 7 Why do we need single-use plastic? Many packaging materials are only used once before being recycled or sent to landfill. However, plastic, rather than other materials, is typically attached to the term ‘single use’ 78% 46% in the media. In an ideal world, plastic would Packaging PLASTIC Is recycled not be thought of in this way because it would is recovered PACKAGING always be recycled into another product, in the UK reducing our dependence upon virgin material. 78% of plastic packaging is recovered in the UK, 46% is recycled and the UK is ranked 7th in Europe. All plastics can be recycled but there are currently technical barriers to recycling some types of them on an industrial scale, although work is being done around the world to overcome these.